A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF SELECTED NIGERIAN NEWSPAPER REPORTS ON INSURGENCIES

Several studies have explored the language of media discourse. However, little attention has been given to critical discourse analysis of media representation of insurgencies in Nigerian newspapers. Thus, this study critically explores lexico-syntactic choices and representations in Nigerian newspaper reports on insurgency. The study adopted Norman Fairclough and Van Dijk’s models of critical discourse analysis as its theoretical framework. Three Nigerian dailies (Daily Trust, the Guardian and The Nation) were selected purposively because of their wide circulations across the six Nigerian geo-political zones and online availability. From the editions published between January 2015 and June 2017, a period covering the climax of insurgency in Nigeria, 18 reports were chosen for critical discourse analysis. The findings of the study showed that Nigerian newspaper reporters deploy ideologically biased lexico-syntactic patterns in representing the main types of insurgent activities carried out by Boko Haram, MASSOB and Niger Delta Militants in Nigeria. Also, they use lexical, syntactic, rhetorical and visual devices to do a lot of things including calling the attention of Nigerian security agents, the Nigerian government, and the international communities to the challenges posed to humanity as a result of insurgencies in Nigeria. Their lexical, rhetorical, and visual choices are also consciously used to encourage Nigerian security agencies to keep on fighting insurgencies and to urge the insurgents to surrender and embrace peace. The study also showed that some of the news reports occasionally bear the reporter’s personal and institutional ideologies. The study concludes that unbiased reportage is cogent to winning the war against insurgency in Nigeria